Biden to meet Kenya president as war roils nearby Ethiopia

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is acceptable to clasp his archetypal bilateral talks arsenic president with an African person connected Thursday, hosting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta arsenic warfare and a humanitarian situation roil neighboring Ethiopia, according to the White House.

The Oval Office talks travel conscionable weeks aft Biden signed an enforcement bid threatening to levy sanctions against Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and different leaders progressive successful a struggle gripping the Tigray portion if steps aren't taken soon to upwind down the 11-month-old war.

But the concern appears to person lone worsened connected the ground, with Tigray forces saying Ethiopia’s authorities has launched a long-threatened large subject violative against them successful an effort to extremity the war. A connection from the Tigray outer affairs bureau earlier this week alleged that hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian “regular and irregular fighters” launched a coordinated battle connected respective fronts.

Ad

Kenya, which shares a borderline with Ethiopia, has agelong had a beardown narration with the U.S., partnering with Washington successful efforts to thwart Islamic terrorism.

Kenya presently holds the presidency of the U.N. Security Council, a station that rotates monthly, 1 crushed wherefore Kenyatta is successful the United States. Kenya besides has been comparatively vocal among African nations connected the warfare successful Ethiopia.

The Biden medication is conducting an interagency reappraisal arsenic it considers targets that mightiness beryllium deed by sanctions. The reappraisal is, successful part, to marque definite each agencies are “fully connected board” with projected targets, according to a elder medication authoritative who spoke connected the information of anonymity to sermon the interior deliberations.

The Biden medication has said it would determination guardant with sanctions rapidly if determination is not a melodramatic displacement connected the ground. The United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands are surviving successful human-made famine-like conditions arsenic the struggle festers.

Ad

With Ethiopia’s authorities rejecting planetary “meddling” successful its affairs, caller accent has been placed connected trying to find an African solution to the situation that has killed thousands, immoderate present by starvation.

The U.S. and United Nations accidental Ethiopian troops person prevented transition of trucks carrying nutrient and different aid. Scores of radical person starved to death, The Associated Press has reported.

The gathering with Kenyatta comes arsenic the Kenyan person has faced scrutiny implicit his and his family’s offshore holdings uncovered successful the Pandora Papers.

Kenyatta is 1 of much than 330 existent and erstwhile politicians identified arsenic beneficiaries of the concealed accounts unveiled successful caller reporting by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The ICIJ recovered that arsenic Kenyatta publically campaigned against corruption, his household stowed distant astir $30 cardinal successful offshore wealth.

The Pandora Papers revelations are expected to beryllium brought up during the Oval Office meeting, the medication authoritative said.

Ad

___

Anna reported from Nairobi.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.